Free Book for Easter Ideas

We only have about a week left before Easter, so you just have a few days to win this free book - Creating Family Traditions by Shirley Dobson and Gloria Gaither that just happens to include my very favorite simple Easter Tradition – Resurrection Rolls! Yummy! For a chance to win, all you have to do is leave a comment. I would love to hear how you teach your children about the joy of Christ's Resurrection at Easter.

Resurrection Rolls 

Ingredients -

1 package of frozen dinner rolls (My favorites are Rhoades Rolls)
1 package of large marshmallows (24)
1/2 stick of melted butter
1/2 cup sugar mixed with 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Directions -

1. Thaw Rolls.
2. Flatten roll and wrap it around one marshmallow pinching dough to seal it inside.
3. Dip in melted butter, and then roll in cinnamon and sugar mixture.
4. Place on a lightly greased cookie sheet.
4. Let rolls rise until they double in size (30-60 minutes).
5. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes until golden.

Your family will devour these rolls Easter morning. The hollow center will remind them of the empty tomb. Talk to them about how empty your lives would be without Christ.

I am looking forward to hearing about your meaningful Easter ideas.

"Tell your Face"

My husband doesn't ask much from me, but he does like for me to be happy. On a much needed lunch date we had recently, he asked me, "Are you having a good time?" I responded, "Yes!" To this he replied, "Well, you need to tell your face!"

My husband is wonderful at using humor and candor to help me realize my blindspots and overcome bad habits. I did not realize that my face was in a bad habit of looking stressed, tired, and worried.  The root problem here, of course, is that if I do not have a habit of true joy and contentment in my heart than it is hard to show that emotion on my face consistently.

Play a game of face charades with your kids where you take turns acting out with your faces different feelings or emotions. Talk to them about how our faces reflect our heart feelings. Ask yourself and your kids, "What is usually reflected on your face?" How can we improve our heart feelings?

Simple Pleasures - Fun Friday

Yesterday, I was surprised to hear my daughter say, "I had the best day ever!"  From her excitement, you would have thought she had just returned from a day at Disneyland.  Yet truthfully her day just included some quality time with the family in the morning, and then an afternoon with my thoughtful father-in-law who is an expert at enjoying the simple things in life. He took them to Sonic, the park, and the candystore. This was a good reminder to me to enjoy the simple pleasures in life with my kids. We have been to the beach, the lake, the mountains and more, but still my kids favorite "vacation" of all time is when we spent the night in a nice hotel downtown. I am always trying to come up with grand plans to entertain my kids when really they would be just as happy enjoying simple time with me playing soccer outside, going to the park, eating icecream, blowing bubbles, or playing board games.

What are some simple pleasures that you and your children share? If you are not sure, just ask them what they want to do today.  While you are enjoying your time together, remember to thank God for all the simple pleasures in your life!

"I'm Bored!"

When you give your kids some down time during this spring break, let me challenge you to face those dreaded words, "Mom, I'm bored" with boldness. My mom used to always say to me, "Only boring people get bored." I have to admit that I did not want to be a boring person, but I think I like the below options better.

1. "Let's think of something fun to do." - Direct them to the game closet, new craft supplies, the water hose, the outdoors, blankets for a fort, new books from the library, etc.
2. "If you can't find something to do, I can think of lots of things you can help me with." Give them some examples of jobs such as organizing, dishes, etc. You may be surprised that sometimes that actually do want to help you. 
3. "If you are bored, then serve the Lord." Be ready with some good ideas for serving others like helping an elderly neighbor, making a card or cookies for a friend, talking to a lonely relative on the telephone. Let them think of those that they know that may have a need.

Share with other moms how do you respond to those dreaded words, "Mom, I'm bored?"

Take a Break from Busyness - Mom Mondays

Happy Spring Break!  I know this is a crazy idea, but have you thought of actually taking a break this week by staying home, relaxing, and doing as little as possible. Our regular busy schedule of dragging kids from school to gymnastics, to soccer, to piano, to church, etc. is so tiring. I don't know why we are tempted to try to schedule outings everyday during our spring break as well, instead of taking a break from the busyness. Are we scared of what might happen if our children have a little "down time"? We continuously entertain our children and then we wonder why they lack creativity and why they don't know how to entertain themselves. I know it will be hard, but try to stay home and do nothing at least for a couple days this week. You will be surprised at how much you and your kids will actually enjoy it, once they learn to relax.

How do you encourage creativity in your children? Do you have any good suggestions about fun activities your family likes to do while relaxing at home?

Don't miss my next blog about what to do when you hear those dreaded words 'Mom, I'm bored'?

OOC - Fun Friday

Do you ever feel like your kids or your life are totally Out Of Control!?! Christ wants us to have self-control, but he does not want us to be control freaks.  We are supposed to put Christ at the control center of our lives, not ourselves. I have to admit. I have trouble giving things over to Christ instead of holding them tightly in my hot little hand, worrying and trying to make everything work out exactly as I have planned. I am officially a control freak. I like to always have a plan and follow the plan. Order, rules, and a schedules make me feel secure and in control. However, as you know, life is unpredictable and kids always throw a wrench in perfectly made plans. Are you going to wait until the meltdown when you feel like you are about to be overwhelmed and OOC before you trust Christ and let him take control? As moms, we have to learn to trust Christ more and be flexible otherwise we will reach our braking point very quickly. 

This weekend do something Out Of Control with your kids.
  1. Make a mud hole in your back yard and let them get completely dirty.
  2. It is supposed to be nice out. Go crazy with a water fight using hoses, water guns, or wet sponges.
  3. Let them make art on baking sheets or right on the table with non-menthol shaving creme.
  Talk to them about how when we give our worries over to Christ, and trust Him for guidance to work out all our plans for His glory, we are much more flexible and fun. Things work out so much better when Christ is in control.  "Oh, the joys of those who trust in the Lord." - Psalm 40:4

Everyone Agrees - Seize the Day! - Teaching Tuesdays

All the experts -secular and Christian- agree that we need to seize the days when our children are young.  "Children's lifelong morals and values are determined at an early age." (Most say before the age of 6.) This quote is the main focus on the homepage of a secular site for online stories that teaches morals. The stories are great for entertaining little ones and teaching very basic morals at the same time. Go to myyoungchild.org for more info.

The older your kids get, the less influence you have over them. Quit making excuses! Make the moments count! Mold your wet cement! These moments are fleeting! I think you get the point. You don't have to make some grand detailed curriculumn to teach your kids character. It can be as simple as explaining to them why you do what you do while you are doing it, celebrating the holidays from a Christian perspective, or reading them a story with a Christian message or moral before bedtime.
Now, let us all go and seize the day!